In the variety pack, the Amber Bock pours a clear amber, light head. Malt with mild hop aroma. Clean finish, medium mouthfeel.
Not a big fan of this one. 2 out 4 amber monkeys.
Author Archive for taro
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It’s odd, it’s not like I’m feeling in any depressed mourning mood, but this weekend has kinda been dad memorial weekend. Not in any big organized way. Started Friday evening, flyer came in the mail a short while ago about the Pacific Shakuhachi Festival Masters’ concert, addressed to mom. Decided to wear Dad’s watch, I haven’t worn a watch in years. I also picked out one of his aloha shirts, although that was partly because I was out of clean aloha shirts anyway. The concert was great. Some of it was odd, the avante garde piano duet being one. But some of it was incredible, the solo traditional performance was breathtaking.
Then Saturday for lunch I did zaru soba with the frozen tempura shrimp my dad gets.
And Sunday dinner I did the karaage.
Next in variety pack is this Oatmeal Stout. Pours black, light head. Roast malt aroma, well modulated hop. Even bitterness that fades. Astringent finish keeps it from feeling too heavy although the mouthfeel is medium thick.
Perfectly serviceable stout, but somewhat disappointing. At least it isn’t something like an India Stout Ale or something like that. Barely makes 3 out 4 oatmeal monkeys.
Next in the winter variety pack, Old Fezziwig Ale. Pours clear dark amber, medium head. Spice aroma, roast malt. Citrus notes hiding in there. Mild bitter that does not persist. Medium thick mouthfeel. Actually not as heavy as I thought it might be, but not a lite either.
Just barely 3 of 4 Fezziwiggy monkeys
In stores now Samuel Adams winter variey pack, and I am happy. Winter brews tend toward darker heartier styles. Here is probably the darkest in the pack, the chocolate bock. Pours very dark brown bordering on black, fairly light head. Cocoa is pretty prominent flavoring and aroma, surpsingly not strongly roast flavor. Medium mouthfeel, clean finish. Actually pretty easy drinking, but I expect more punch from a bock.
I’ll give it barely 3 out 4 chocolaty monkeys.
Next up in the space food selection is this from S&B. Actually I’d categorize this more as army food. Japanese style curry in retort packaging. Space food it would be freeze dried. To heat, immerse packet in boiling water until hot. I got this one to see what “extra hot” would be like.
Discovered at Marukai, this Waku Waku Farm Kanazawa Dark Ale. Pours dark brown, medium light head. Roast malt aroma, caramel tones. surprisingly not very bitter. This is actually a pretty mellow and clean beer. There also isn’t a whole lot of character.
Just barely 3 out 4 waku waku monkeys.
Could not resist a “new” offering from New Belgium, not a IPA! It turns out the Belgian style dubbel was one of their first beers. Pours a cloudy dark rose brown with medium light head. Dark malt aroma, hints of prune. Gives way to bitter and some alcohol warmth.
3 out 4 Belgian style monkeys.
Not being Korean, I can’t vouch for the authenticity of this kimchi proclaimed on the label. I do now know they should print a warning on the label, contents under fermentation pressure, open carefully! Should have known something was up when there was juice on the bottle already. The jar is jam packed, I don’t think theres any avoiding the spooge escape.
Found at Marukai and Donqi, from the label, “Designed by Far Yeast Brewing, Tokyo. Produced by Brewery De Graal, Brakel, Belgium.” So we have Belgian brewed beer for a Japanese company imported by a New Jersey company. Pours a cloudy yellow, medium strong head. Citrus and coriander aroma, though the spice is subtler than others. Faint hint of skunk, also fair bitter. Finishes with astringent on the tongue and lingering spice.
3 out 4 confused Japanese Belgian monkeys.